Hello~ Here is the chapter that was made for Day 2, and of course, guess who finds Allen again~? Though one might say Allen is the one who finds Tyki this time. More or less. I hope you enjoy~
Day Two
Meetings; Leisure; Joyride; Ocean
There was no way to control the furrow of brows full of suspicion as Allen's steps came to a stop. When he had noticed someone fishing in the river leading to the town, he hadn't known the form would soon feel familiar, until recognition flashed into his being. Then his eyebrows lifted when he realized Tyki had not noticed Allen.
His lips twitched into a little, but dark, grin. With light steps, Allen changed direction and went straight for the man. The very focused man.
"Lunch?" Oh, he really had to bite his lips when Tyki jumped so bad the rod slipped out of his fingers, forcing him to scramble to catch it before it fell in the waters, startled curses leaving his lips.
"Shonen." Tyki greeted with a frown that did nothing to hide the pout, or little darkening of his cheeks. Oh, what a sight. "This is a… surprise." Then an easy grin formed. "A nice one."
It was Allen's turn to feel his face heat, but he crossed his arms, pinning Tyki with a deadpan look. "Indeed. I didn't expect to see you in the next town I went to. Quite the coincidence, don't you think? To think that we would stumble on each other mere days after parting ways. Almost as if we went in the same direction."
The Noah shrugged before standing up, dusting his clothes and not looking in Allen's eyes. "What can I say, luck is on our sides." Tyki let his gaze meet Allen's, sly smile on his face. "Unless you think it's a bad thing to meet me again?"
Silver eyes narrowed, but the corner of Allen's lips twitched. "Depends. What should I expect?"
Tyki lifted the bucket filled with the fishes he had gotten. "Lunch, as you guessed. I bet you're rather content to finally reach town." Oops, Allen's eyes lit up at the slip, because how could have Tyki known Allen had been on the road with only his own supplies until now? Damn that boy, he got me good with that surprise stunt. His smile turned a little nervous. "And I happen to know a nice place to stay at. The town is going to have a fair, so all the inns are full." Now Tyki smirked. "So really, you are lucky I got a room I'm willing to share."
"… And when is that fair?" Allen asked, shoulders dropping with a sigh, slight hesitation in his gaze that Tyki eventually realized was Allen Walker being shy.
Shy but willing to accept the implied invitation. "Tomorrow. They will stay for three days." He placed a hand on his hip, glancing down at his bucket, though he was still grinning. "I thought that would be a nice occasion to take leisure time. Though the town was bubbling with too much energy, so here I am."
There was a few seconds of silence that followed, Tyki's gaze lifting back and head tilting with a little smile, as if waiting for Allen to decide. The white haired felt himself relax, not that he had been tense, but after being on the road for the past few days, he felt… soothed by what could almost be called a welcoming.
Then his stomach rumbled, and red coloured his cheeks. He scratched the back of his neck while the man laughed warmly. "So you were about to make lunch?"
"I was hoping to get more fish, but we can have a first meal. Just sit, I'll make the fire." Tyki suggested with an easy grin, as if he was happy to do this with Allen. Or for Allen.
And really, how could he refuse a free meal? So the younger man got himself comfortable, Timcanpy flying around the two men, letting his travel bag rest beside him and crossing his legs as he watched Tyki. "Is the town busy? Or did you just want to cook?"
"There are always places to eat, but there's a lot of people. It's a bit overwhelming, if you just want to rest and relax." Once more, Tyki didn't meet Allen's gaze as the younger man watched him rather piercingly. "Though I'm well placed to know that isn't going to fill your void of a stomach. We'll get more later, when the restaurants won't be as filled."
It was Allen's turn to divert his gaze, instead fixing his eyes on the wood stick with the fishes that Tyki had started to cook. He felt, however, hyper aware of Tyki as the man chose to sit beside Allen. "I'm really lucky today aren't I? You're willing to share a room and you even got lunch plans."
Tyki let a soft smile show on his face, chuckling. "I might be the lucky one, though. Pleasant company always makes a meal nicer, don't you think?"
"Well, aren't you very honest today. Careful, I might almost think you are trying to charm me." Allen replied with amusement, however the gaze from the corner of his eyes was almost inquisitive, and the faint blush of his cheek could not be fought away.
"Only trying?" Tyki grinned, fully meeting Allen's eyes. But at Allen's scowl, confused more than anything, the Noah let his expression soften. "Come on now, are you saying you mind being around me?"
Allen fingers tapped against his knee, his expression smoothing. "You're decent." He finally replied, smiling innocently as Tyki made a noise of protest. "And the fishes are ready, I believe."
The man was chuckling again, shaking his head in a manner almost fond while he took out two sticks, handing one to Allen, and locking eyes. "Decent enough to share a meal with?"
Allen showed a smile that was, for lack of better word, coy. No, charming. "You are the one who cooked for me, after all." His fingers had closed around his stick, but Tyki hadn't let go yet, making their fingers touch. "And I do believe you invited me for more food after."
"Invited-you little demon." Tyki muttered, finally letting him take his stick. "You'll follow anyone who offers you food, wouldn't you?" He grumbled as they both started to eat their fish.
Allen paused, then huffed out a laugh. "I'm not sure I can deny that." He joked. But then he added, quieter, "But you're not anyone."
Tyki snapped his eyes back on Allen, but of course, the younger male didn't look, instead focused on the food. Or pretending not to notice Tyki's gaze. That didn't stop the man from grinning. He didn't add anything though, instead letting the two of them eat in relaxed silence.
When they were finished, it was obvious that it had only opened Allen's appetite, with how the younger man stared at the fire with longing at the lack of more fish. It made Tyki laugh, then he stood and extended a hand. "I don't know you but I could really do with more food. I did get interrupted fishing for more."
Allen accepted the hand, which let Tyki easily pull him up, while snorting. "Not my fault you were so distracted. You're lucky I didn't push you in the river. That was tempting for a moment."
Tyki glared, picking up the bucket and fishing rod before leading the way. "You would have ended in the river too, Shonen."
That only earned a smile and eyes that seemed to say, I would have liked to see you try. Up until his expression shifted to suspicious when in turn, Tyki's eyes lit up and he was grinning way too much. This was also the moment Allen realized he was the one closest to the river.
So, he quickened his steps, throwing a dark look when Tyki followed with laughters. Up until Allen reminded him that the Noah had invited Allen for food, and the white haired was whistling as Tyki paled.
Deep down, though, happiness had bubbled, enough to overcome to loneliness Allen had felt until now, the loneliness that had seemed to grow after he parted ways with Tyki. He had tried to convince himself that it was simply the casual interaction with someone he knew and that knew him that had made him wish for more; but now that he had met Tyki again…
He knew it was Tyki who he had been missing the past few days. He felt almost afraid, to spent a day around him, or even more; because who knew how he would feel when they would have to go their own way again?
But in the same way, Allen felt that he didn't want to leave, that he didn't want to refuse Tyki's offers. It was like the last time, yet it wasn't. Last time, they met by luck, and Tyki offered him safety for the time he would be around him. This time… This time, Tyki was offering him again safety, but also the silent promise of having fun; and more importantly, it was not chance meeting.
Allen knew it, just like he knew Tyki hadn't really tried to hide the fact. It was a silent knowledge, in the same way that they both pretended that they weren't part of a war. It was the silent promise of being just Allen and Tyki.
One that Allen found himself willing to follow. And like this, lunch passed by, until Tyki mentioned how close the ocean was, and Allen mentioned it had been a while since he had seen it.
This was how, after Tyki showed him the hotel he had rented a room in and he put his bag down, Allen ended up being guided to rock cliffs that overlooked the ocean.
It felt easy, then, to sit with his back against rocks, to have the man sit beside him, to have Timcanpy nestle in his hairs.
It felt easy, and comfortable in ways he hadn't been able to feel for months now. How long had it been, since he felt that he could relax?
A chuckle from his side brought his gaze to Tyki, inquisitive. The man gave a lopsided smile, eyes warm. "We watched sunrise before, we ought to watch sunset too now, Shonen."
Somehow, Allen immediately knew Tyki was speaking of when they parted ways, when the sun had finally shone after the rainstorm. He let his gaze get lost in the rolling waves, humming. "Tonight, or in three days?" Will we separate again, when we do?
There was a few seconds of silence, and then, "Why not every night until we can't?" Why not stay together as long as we can?
Allen felt his heart skip a beat, but he couldn't bring himself to glance at Tyki. He didn't know what to say, either. He didn't know what he might want to say. He just knew his heart suddenly yearned for the quiet promise of companionship. "Why not every night until the fair ends?" I don't know about more.
Tyki was smiling, a touch sad, a touch fond. Not that Allen saw. "Sounds good to me. I told you, pleasant company is always good. I won't say no to yours, Shonen, whenever it is." I'll take however long you give me.
And Allen had nothing else to add, bare the hum of agreement.
